A man with his Daughter

Today is Easter. It is great festive season over here in Italy. People go to churches and then celebrate the rebirth of Christ in various ways. The day is unusually beautiful. The spring in its full bloom, blossoming the atmosphere with the charm of greenery. I woke up although a bit tensed due to the some pangs, but the atmosphere with its blue sky and green trees soon overcome the state of mind with it great lush of spring. I was not sure whether to go for work to office (as I had decided sometime back to finish some stuff this week), or to go out for a trip to mountains. The previous day was a bit tiring as I went for shopping, and had to do other household stuff, which broke me so much that I preferred to lie on bed. I also bought new trousers the previous day, and wanted to try them. Thus I decided to go out to office, work a bit and later in evening would see what can be done, to enjoy the festive.

I went out take the bus at 12:00, the weather was damn beautiful. Had I been not standing on the roadside, I sure would have removed my clothes and jumped in the sea. I strolled a bit as I waited for the bus. Apart from me, there was only one student who was going to ICTP for work (yes he was also Indian but form Nepal ). The bus came, a little late than the scheduled time, as if she also wanted to enjoy and didn’t want to work.

When I entered the bus, I stood right at the entrance, as there were not enough space inside that I could go in. Near me were standing a man with his daughter. They have sprinkled some water on the floor, and the little girl (3 or 4 years I guess) was talking something to his dad, as how to clean it up. They were talking Italian so I could not understand exactly, but gestures conveyed most of the meaning. After a while they started spreading the sprinkled water, so that it dries soon. The daughter was notorious and sweet. So was also the dad. The two look very sweet to me. The dad was now and then looking at me , to get assured that I am not unhappy with the mischievous acts of his daughter. Well I was not, I just loved them, both of them looked sweet and cute. The dad was also playing with daughter, and was trying to show that he is very happy today. I was thinking that the wife must be standing a little distance away in the bus, but I was wrong. When the bus stopped at the church, the two get down, but now woman accompanied them. I felt deep pity for them. I do not know why there was not any woman with them. I thought that may be they have divorced, but then in that case the daughter stays with the mother. Still it could be that the dad is allowed to meet the daughter only on some occasion, and today was one, when the two went out away form the wife (mother) to enjoy the company of each other.

It could also be that the wife has died leaving the daughter, under the care of husband. This could explain also the unusual childish behavior of the father. May be he was trying to hide the sorrow that he misses his wife very much and wants to absorb himself in the present, which is his daughter.

It could also be that the man is not married and has adopted the child from an orphanage, but this is bit unusual I guess. There could be many other reasons, why the two were without a woman.

The dad’s love and his activities were such that they did not make the daughter realize the necessity of a mother. May be she does need her, or may she doesn’t as the dad was extremely good and caring.

Whatever the reasons were for them to be without a woman, I felt sad for them.

Forgot Keys

It has been long time since I last put any post. Well in PhD life hardly anything new occurs. The days keeps going one after another in the same way. Even most of the weekends are also same, like any other week days. Well you must be wondering why I am making post today then. Yes u guessed it right, something interesting happed today.

The day started as usual, me doing the usual activities of morning. Felt a bit pissed by the annoying behavior of my flatmate, who feels natural to bang and slam doors. Don’t care if you are sleeping or meditating, but is very careful to complain if somebody becomes a nuisance to him. Weird man !!! So after encountering his irritating activities I get a bit stressed and started thinking how to and what to say to him, so that he don’t do all this in future. I was thinking when he produced a lot further noises by slamming doors and left in hurry. I did not get the chance to express by irritation. After few minutes I took bath, and then breakfast. I also had to go for purchasing food, asa i hadn’t had anything for the lunch. I put mu jacket on and kept a bag in my pocket, moved towards the door, when a thought occurred to me that I am forgetting something. My mind was so much occupied by the nasty activities that I witnessed of my flatmate that I could not think what is it that I am forgetting.

I cam outside the house and closed the door. A thought came to me like a flash that I forgo the keys. “Oh God, shit “. I mind was already a bit stressed before this, and with this my head was bursting. I stayed at the door for some 20 minutes. In that time, I tried to call my flatmate, but couldn’t as my cell has no credit. I even thought of knocking at my neighbor, as that too have the same landlord and might suggest something useful, but I did not do it. I thought about Feynman, how clever he was in opening locks, about which I read in “Surely you are joking, Mr Feynman”. I examined the lock to see if it can be opened by some screw. I even pushed the door, to see if by force I can break the lock . The irony was that I had nothing with myself. My college bag, containing my food, study material, water bottle etc was locked inside, and I did not had any screw. I cursed my luck and felt angry at the great presence of mind that I had.

I finally decided to go out and do following things. 1) Recharge the mobile. 2) Call Ernazar (my flatmate) to know his whereabouts, and inform him about the problem to seek solution. I was going to one Tabacci shop (where they sell rechange coupons) when on my way I met a man with his big dog (I guess great dane). The man was returning form supermarket with food and his dog, to keep the stuff in hi car. The great dog stood in my way and blocked my path. The man at first did not notice it but on turning back realized that his dog is not smart enough to move away from the path. He pulled the chain on his neck, but the dog instead of making way for me, just rotated a bit and stood in transverse way. Then the patted his dog ass to set him aside form my path. Both me and the man were greatly amused. I felt lovely to see the dog innocence, and kept smiling until I reached the Tabacci shop to ask for recharge coupon, where my smile was lost, when I was told that they do not have the coupons. I then went to next shop, again they did not had. I tried the next one, luckily they had, and I charged my mobile. Then I moved towards the bus stop, and on the way made a call to Ernazar. The call was cut, and I received the message that the phone is busy. I felt angry at him. But after 2 minutes he called me. “Yes Gaurav, what happened”. As if he was expecting to hear some news. I told him about my strange situation, which he was not ready to believe and wanted an explanation, as he knew that I am not a preson who does such careless mistakes.

The mistake was cost me a lot. I had to go to SISSA to collect the keys from Ernazar, took the next bus came back home after purchasing food from supermarket PAM, and waited till 2:10 pm for the flatmate to arrive. All this already made me tired and I wanted to take rest. Resting did recharged my battery and I felt a little rejuvenated. I also took some food and milk to feel better. I even did some exercise using dumbbells present in Ernazar’s room. This made me feel better, and I liked the feeling. When the bell rang at 2:10, I proceeded to the door to answer the call at the receiver. It was Ernazar, whom I was anyway expecting at that time, but I was pressing the wrong button on the intercom thus the door was not opening. However the door was opened by someone who wanted to get in/out the door. Ernazar felt pissed and on reaching upstairs, the first thing he told me was the position of the button on the intercom. The expressions on his face were justified by his tone.

I decided to come back to SISSA again, though initially I had decided to stay at home and take rest. I took the bus at 2:20 pm. But this time my mood was not bad as it was before and even though I was tired, I still felt a bit jolly.

Water Crisis in my House

Yesterday when I reached my house, I found some pipeline construction going on just in front of the building’s door. They were digging the hole in the road to check the pipeline for water or may be repair it. As a result they has stopped the water flowing through it. I became aware of this only after I arrived my flat.

When I opened the tap in bathroom to wash my hands, the flow of water was low. I guessed that is must be because of the construction work going underneath. But I didn’t realize that water is only available for few minutes, after which it will stop.

It was time for dinner, so I rushed to kitchen to cook some rice and lentils. When I opened the tap, a very thin stream of water flowed through it. I was barely able to wash the rice. I then started looking through my window to gaze the workers outside, with a hope that soon they would finish the job.

It was taking long and my hunger made me more desperate. I decided to make food with the water available in the bottles from supermarket. I use this water only for drinking. By that time my flatmate also arrived. He is a very egoistic guy with hardly any concern for anyone. He entered the house with lot of vigor in his movements and then after few seconds quickly went towards bathroom. 20 seconds later he came out with a embarrassing face to inquire about water not coming. Like me he also peeped out from window at the workers with desperation.

By the time I put my cooker on gas and started making the stuff, the noise of the water pump stopped. I quickly rushed to the window, to see the progress. Well they were just arranging sacks in mud. However after some 15 minutes they did started the water. I was eagerly waiting for it.

I opened the tap and stared at it. There was a roar, and then a sudden gust with muddy water following it. I left the tap opened for sometime.

Just an hour without water and I became so troubled. I wondered about people who live their life with very little water usage. Within an hour I was able to realize the importance of water, while my flatmate lied in his bedroom with a who cares attitude, holding a novel in one hand and a glass of beer in another.

While these people were doing their job, many old people approached them to inquire about the progress and when the water will be released. Everyone was desperate to use it and felt very uncomfortable with the knowledge that something is missing in their lifestyle, even though in daily life that is hardly cared for.

Cat in my House

3 days back when I woke up in morning, I was surprised to see that the corridor and the veranda were completely dirty. There was shit and some liquid stuff lying at various places on the ground. Since I just woke up, thus my mind was hardly able to reason as to what must have had happened in night. After refreshing myself I became a detective and started scrutinizing the situation.

I realized that it was some kind of shit, still unaware of which animal. I then checked the back of my shoes and then went on examining the shoes of my flatmate, who was luxuriously sleeping in his room, hardly unaware of what is happening outside. Finding no clues of shit neither on my nor on my flatmate shoe’s, I started wondering then who it must have come. I examined the floor more carefully. I realized that the liquid stuff is actually urine or may be some other shitty thing.

On examining the shit, I found that its shape was undamaged, and had no sign of distortion. It was completely cylindrical. Thus I realized that it has been freshly released from the body. With this conclusion, some images from past came to my mind, and I concluded that the shit belong to cat. All this was lying near our entrance door of the house.

Now I wondered how then the cat must have come to our house. My apartment is located on 4th floor. I tried to make my own spicy story. The cat must have been somebody’s pet and in night wanted to go to toilet. Since it cannot spoil its owners house thus wanted to go out. Having reached the window of the owner’s house, she would have realized that she is at a great height from the ground and thus jumping wound injure her. Thus she entered the near by house through the window. She actually came to the exit of the apartment, but having found the door closed couldn’t do anything and under pressure dirtied the floor.

I had to clean so much after all this.

Parcel from my Sister on Rakhi

Few days back my sister send me a parcel. Her busy schedule did not give any chance to her of informing me from before. It was while I was talking to my mom that she informed be about it that I will soon receive a parcel on Rakhi by my sister. I was excited about it.

For the past few days I didn’t check my mail box. My office is located in a different building, while the mail boxes are put in the main building. Unless some official work brings me to main building, I never go to see the mail box. After I heard from my mom about the parcel. I went the same day to see if I have received any thing. On entering the room where mail boxes are kept, I found a yellow packet lying in my mail box. I quickly collected it and went to my office to have a look. On my way I thought that it must have arrived earlier, only I checked it now. On reaching my office, I was very eager to open it soon and see what I have recived. At first instance I thought of opening it only after I have reached home, but I couldn’t resist the temptation. I quickly opened it, and what a surpise ? I received Parle-G biscuits and Nan-khatai with rakhi and a soveinor fron New York and a small card with best wishes… Vow that was so lovely and touching. After gazing it for sometime, I closed it. Soon I left for home.

On reaching home, and after finishing the dinner, I was again excited to have a glimpse of the parcel. I closed the door of my room, jumped on my cushy bed and reopened the parcel, this time I was more happy, as if a kid has just got a gift of which he was desperately longinh for. My behavior was like that partially, because I was in comfortable position, lying on bed, covering myself with soft blanket. All this made me feel very homely, like as though I was in my house at my hometown.

The Parle-G biscuits reminded me of my childhood days, when I used to eat the whole packet of Parle-G by soaking one after another in tea. Holding the Parle-G in my hand, I recalled the same taste that I used to get in my childhood. This softness brought with itself lot of events from those days to life. I remembered how much I used to love eating biscuits by soaking them in tea. they used to become soft, and sometimes they used to even fall in tea, which ultimately I used to take them out by spoon. There are lot of childhood memories associated with Parle-G. Everytime whenever we (me, my sister and my Mom) used to go to market, my Mom used to purchase two packets of biscuits, one for me and one for my sister. Both of us used to eat them by soaking them in tea, a great taste thus. I used to finish my packet very early before my sister could finish hers, why ?? so that she donot take mine . But after mine were finished I used to take biscuits fo my sister . Now I feel how mean I was, but when you are kids these things do not come to once mind. My sister was great, that she never used to say anything much to me, she only used to ask why did i took hers and then smile . Funny are childhood memories. So receiving Parle-G in parcel made me to think about my childhood, and I again wanted to become a kid .

After examinig Parle-G and keeping it back in packet, I took out the sovenior from New York. It size was that of small pocket diary, and had a magnet at its back. The picture showed a building and other things like cranes etc. On it was written, “Old New York, Flat Iron Building”. It was slightly orangish in color, to give it a rusty look. May be they made it in that way in order to make the person looking at it feel retrospective. I also felt the same.

And in end I took out Rakhi, with a small card. The card contained wishes from my sister on rakhi. Rakhi was of silver. It looked very beautiful and was glittering in the light of bulb. Seeing all that I once again recalled my childhood days, when my sister used to tie rakhi on my hand and then used to give sweets to me. Oh … How sweet were those moments.

Stealing from Waste

I never thought or expected that I would one day see a thing which would make me to write a post. Whenever I’m in kitchen cooking the dinner or having breakfast, I often look out from the window to see what is happening outside. The road doesn’t speaks anything but it silently witness many things. The scenes created on the road have a lot to speak. Many of the scenes are usual and doesn’t cause much impact on the mind, but some create a very strong image on mind.

One particular scene which created a strong impact on my mind and made me to wonder and reason why it was so, was the following. Just in front of my house is a big supermarket called PAM. Actually the back of the supermarket faces our house. Towards the back of PAM, are kept big waste boxes, where the spoiled food is thrown. This contains mostly, partially rotten fruits, vegetables, recently expired bread and other papers or carton boxes. Although these boxes are mainly meant for the supermarket to throw their trash, but people staying nearby that due to their laziness also throw the waste from their houses. Sometimes even I throw in them. These waste from the houses is complete shit, they contain only rubbish and garbage. It stinks offensively. The waste form the supermarket in my opinion is still usable, if used immediately, however the presence of garbages from the different house makes them bad.

In night I was cooking my dinner and then while the masala was getting prepared, I just came to the window to see the outside life and take some fresh air. I noticed a strange thing. I saw a woman taking out bread and other usable items from the waste box. I stood on the window to see and wonder why actually she might need them. She was dressed in a nice way. Her dress doesn’t made any sign that she is too poor to afford. She collected some bread, fruits and green leafy vegetables, I guess this is all what she could find. I stood there till she left. Though she left soon. I thought a bit over as to what the reasons are, that urged her to do this undignified act. Well then I got engaged in making my vegetables and forgot what I saw.

After couple of days in morning, I came to the window to put my wet towel in the sun. I was preparing myself for the breakfast. It was around I guess 11:00 am. I saw a man on scooter, who was taking out food and other eatable stuff from the waste box. He collected lot of stuff and put it all in his scooter. There were lot of people on the road, who might be watching all this, but generally over here people ignore all this. After he was done with the task, he left with his scooter and food. I didn’t pay much attention as I was busy preparing myself for the office. After few minutes I again came at the window with a nutella and cheese sandwich in hand. I gain found the same man with a scooter, this time he was accompanied by a woman and a dog also. I guess they were their family members. The woman came with a PAM carriage to collect  the food, and she took so much that her whole carriage was filled. The dog was standing nearby to her, waving his tail anxiously to get some food.

In watching all this my breakfast was over and I started packing up my bag to leave. When I went downstairs, I found the man leaving on hi scooter and the women going away with her carriage. The rule of supermarket PAM is that if you want to carry a lot of food from market, then you cane issue a carriage which you later return after you are done with the shopping  and left the stuff in your vehicle. However this woman was using the carriage on road. She was taking the carriage somewhere, may to her nearby home. This time I really wondered seriously why they are using the food from the waste. Two reasons came to my mind. Either they are really poor and cannot afford to purchase from the market or they run some pizzeria and want to make maximum profit. I can rule out the first possibility as I noticed they wore reasonably fine clothes and also carry a dog. Thus only the second possibility made sense to me.

If that is true, then how mean and cheap are they as they want to deceive their customers. But I cannot say this very firmly as I have not made a full inquiry.

Few days later, I found the same lady again taking food from the waste. She was accompanied by her dog. While she was collecting the food, I noticed another lady who came to throw her waste from her house. She came with lot of pride, to threw her waste or may she became arrogant to see that someone is taking food from waste, which actually had come from some person who might have purchased food in order to produce that waste. This was also a bit strange. That even waste has its owner and carried a price value. This thing becomes more prominent when someone start using it.

Blind Lady

2 Days ago I was coming to my office. When I came out form the house, I realized that the day was exceptionally beautiful. the sky was damn clear and blue, the Sun with its glossy light was enhancing the greenery everywhere. While walking towards the bus station, I realized that I missed the last bus and thus preferred to sit on th seat put near by.

I just sat down and gazed the vastness and blueness of sky with smile, occasionally looking here and there. After few minutes the bus 36 came, and everyone entered through the first gate. Given the beauty of the day, the bus was very crowded. Everyone longed to go to the sea shore and stretch themselves under the sky taking sun bath.

I was standing just near the front door. there wasn’t enough space to move or to go towards back. Standing right at the front part of bus near the driver, one can see everything on both sides of road. The was lot of people everywhere, as though they were visiting a public fair. When the bus was about the reach the stop located near the Church, I noticed a middle aged lady, dressed nicely and wearing dark sun glasses. When The bus approached she did not make any gesture or signal to stop the bus. However the bus still did stop because someone wanted to get down.

When she heard the sound of bus approaching, she started moving towards the first door. She used her hand in order to feel and sense where she is heading. On seeing her the driver opened the door, but since I was standing at the door (due to crowd ), the door couldn’t open nicely and was half opened. By then she has already come to the door. She put her right hand on the side of left door and the left hand in between the two doors. She asked what is the number of the Bus. While she was asking this, the driver closed the door in order to reopen in nicely. Since her hands were kept in wrong position thus they were a little hurt when the door closed. After teh door opened again she just said thanks in Italian with a beautiful simle.

After she left and the bus proceeded, I wondered even though she is unable to see the beauty of the day, still she is happy and have a smile on her face. While other people who are completely perfect are always complaining of something or other, or fighting with someone. What an irony ???

Saturday with swimming in Sea

With the weather getting more and more hot one is tempted to take a dive in sea. This temptation becomes more stronger when the evening bus taking you home moves along the sea coast, where you see many others like you enjoying and basking in the sun.

With this temptation difficult to overcome I soon purchased swimming costume for myself. While purchasing I wondered that the costume being a small piece of cloth covering only the required part of body why costs so much. Anyway I still bought it.

I decided to go for swimming on Saturday, as thats the only day when I don’t do any professional work, apart from the house cleaning.

While swimming if you have company of friends then that is very joyfull. Previous Saturday while going for swimming I was looking for a friendly company. Late in evening around 6:00 pm I went to the other building of my institute which is located close by my office, in search for some company. Unfortunately I did not find any. I felt a bit strange in going for swimming alone. But still I decided to go the sea, hoping that may be on the way I would find some friends.

I reached the bus stop located near the sea. There I noticed two familiar person. They were a something like 20 meters away from me. They were standing near the bus. I thought they would take the bus, but when I went near the bus I did not find them there. I just looked here and there, when my eye caught their sight. They were moving towards the area for swimming. I was excited a bit that may be they could join me in swimming. So I followed them. After walking some 50 meters they stopped at a place to change clothes. From back I came to join them. They also felt happy to see me, may be because they thought that a bigger group means bigger fun.

Finally we went to sea. The water was not very deep. It went till my shoulders and when I moved farther away I realized that the slope is not much. Moving some 10meters, it reached till my chin. The sea bed was sandy, which was quite good. Because if it is stony then it becomes slippery due to algae and the presence of sea shells makes them more sharp. A sandy sea bed was like cushion touching your feet. I tried to catch hold of the sand by my feet but it was very loose.

Soon we were joined by another boy who came with a ball (actually a football ).We then stared playing with the ball. This was really funny. Many times sea water went in my mouth. The tongue lost its taste buds.

Obesity Obsession

Yesterday I was reading BBC and I came across a interesting article. The article was about “Fat friends can boost your size”. It sounds funny on reading but after sometime realized that it is very true.

The article can be looked at the following link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7524944.stm

In evening when I was traveling in bus, I was observing and looking fro examples verifying the statements made by BBC. Researchers say that People are subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them. This is certainly true to some extent. If a thin looking person is in a company where most of members are fat, then after spending days with them he/she would like to be one with them, because the human mind is such that it cannot bear the oddness for long.

Unless the person mind is strong enough to overcome the unspoken criticism, he/she would very likely become victim of bad things.

Thus if you are in a community where most of people are fat then it is very likely that you would also become the same.

Social criticism of being a vegetarian

Mostly in India people are vegetarian. Actually the form of vegetarianism practiced by most of them is partial. Only a small percentage follow true vegetarianism.

The word vegetarianism is defined by Wikipedia in the following manner : it is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.

Mostly the Indians follow lacto vegetarian: where along with vegetable one can also take milk, honey and other dairy products. This is because Cow is considered scared in Hindu religion, thus the milk is consumed assuming cow to be sacred mother.

Beside this many Indians also prefer to take flesh occasionally. This type of vegetarianism is actually semi-vegetarian. There are many other varieties of semi-vegetarianism.

However certain class of Hindu follow Su vegetarianism : in this apart from being Lacto veg one does not eat onions, garlic, scallions, leeks and shallots. Mostly the people who follow Yoga philosophy, they follow this. Why ?? Because the aim of Yoga is to attain a stable, desire-less and focused mind, and ultimately join the soul with God. Eating these things make the focusing of mind difficult and also makes the controlling of desires difficult. Thus this is practiced by them.

There is another related term Fruitarianism : It is a diet of only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant. This is mostly practiced by people following Jainism. Some times Hindus also follow this occasionally. They follow it during the times of fast.

Whatever the kind of vegetarianism one follows, the reason for following them can be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.

Now you must wondering why I’m talking about all this ? The reason is that I’m a Hindu and practice Yoga philosophy. Thus I’m a Su Veg but sometimes on days of fast I also follow Fruitarianism. Presently I’m living in Italy. Practicing these are really difficult in places where majority of people are non-veg. Its difficult not because I don’t find lot of vegetables in supermarkets, but because the way I’m being treated by society.

Common remarks and words that I hear from public are : ” are you joking that you are veg ” , ” really ” , ” I will not be happy if I practice that ” etc. and the most extreme one : ” are you crazy ” .

Sometimes the criticism comes in an indirect way. Like many times it happen that I’m called for party by my friends, almost all the people going for party are non-veg with me the only exception who neither drinks alcohol nor eats meat. Thus it becomes quite difficult. Either I have to ask them to arrange for something veg for me which appears like asking for favor or I just make any reason that I would not be able to come but then this gives an impression that I’m not a very social person. This type of unspoken criticism hurts more.

Even when people do make something veg for me, they forget to exclude onions, garlic etc. Once I was called for small dinner party, where they made some veg stuff. The host were happy that I would be also coming for party while mostly I say no. I was also happy that I’m going to meet friends. However only when I reached there that I realized that the food contain onions and garlic, while the sweet dish contains eggs. I didn’t want to trouble them nor I wanted to make a joke of myself. Thus I decided to eat the food leaving the sweet dish. I felt bad that I had to violate the rules. But then I also felt happy that I made them feel good by joining them for dinner.

Recently I had to go for a conference related to my research work. There they asked me while registering me for the conference, whether I’m vegetarian or vegan or follow some other. It was quite difficult to explain them the kind of diet I practice. And unfortunately at that time I didn’t have the knowledge of the different terms assigned to various categories of vegetarianism. Somehow I managed to explain them the restricted diet I follow. But after the conversation was finished I realized that almost everyone in the room was staring at me with wide open eyes.

There are many encounters like this through which I have to go. Just because that I’m veg and follow a restricted diet that I have to undergo an unspoken criticism. Practicing vegetarianism in a region where majority is non-veg, is considered abnormal.